Means for transferring the matrices from the first elevator to the second elevator of a matrix-composing and line-casting machine



Oct. 1,645,615

- 1927' c. MUEHLEISEN MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE MATRICES FROM THE FIRSTELEVATOR T0 THE} SECOND ELEVATOR OF A MATRIX COMPOSING AND LINE CASTINGMACHINE Filed March 1 1927 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Inventor 'w wrww i i1645,615 Oct. 18, QMUEHLEISEN MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THE MATRICES FROMTHE FIRST ELEVATOR TO THE SECOND ELEVATOR OF A MATRIX .COMPOSING ANDLINE CASTING IACHINE Filed March l 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct.18, 1927.

UNITED STATES v 1,645,615 PATENT OFFICE. j

CARI MUEHLEISEN, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINOTYPCOMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MEANS FOR TRANSFERBING THE MATRICES FROM THE FIRST ELEVATOR TO THESECOND ELEVATOR OF A MATRIX-COMPOSING AND LINE-CASTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 15, 1927, Serial No. 175,450, and in GermanyAugust 24, 1926.

convey them to the distributor, whilst leav ing behind the justifyingspacebands.

As the matrices, when the first elevator is elevated, are slack as theresult of the slackening of the spacebands, and the line therefore isloose, it may happen that thick matrices with ears located on one side,hang slantwise in the first elevator, and in such a case the toothedcombinations of those matrices are too low to engage the above namedlifter bar when the matrices are moved from the first elevator towardsaid bar, and these matrices consequently will fall off.

The object of the present invention is to provide means by which theaforesaid diflicultyis overcome. For this purpose, there is provided atthe point at which the matrices are transferred from the first elevatorto the lifter bar, a spring-controlled stop hereinafter termedaresistant or yielding resistant, which is adapted to bear against thefoot or preferably against one of the lower lugs of the foremost of thematrices in course of transference to the lifter bar and thereby bringit to an upright condition and compel all the following matrices of theline to assume correspondingly upright positions. WVhen the line ismoved on to the lifter bar, the resistant assumes a position whichallows the matrices to be passed freely thereover.

The drawings illustrate by way of example three constructional forms ofthe invention and in these drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic frontelevation of the intermediate transfer channel with the lifter bar readyto receive a line of matrices from the first elevator then operativelyregistering therewith;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the line shown astransferred to the lifter bar;

Figure 3 is aside elevation of Figure 2;

Figure 4 represents two thick matrices the first elevator, one inincorrect position and the other in correct position;

Figure 5 is a View corresponding to Figure 1 of a second constructionalform;

Figure 6 is a view similarto Figure 5 with parts shown in differentpositions,

gigure 7 is a side elevation of Figure 6, an

Figure 8 is a front elevation of part of .a third constructional form ofthe yielding re' sistant. V I

Like reference numerals are used to indi cate like parts in all of theconstructions shown.

The lineof matrices 1, is assembled from the magazine, and issubsequently transferred to the first elevator all as already known inexisting machines. After the line is cast, the first 'elevator2, ofwhich only a small fragment is shown in the drawings, moves upwardlywith the said'line, which,

immediately thereafter, is moved along the intermediate transfer channel3 into which enters the lifter bar 4 of the second elevator.

When the first elevator 2 with the matrix line 1 reaches the position inwhich it is shown in Figure 1, that is to say, in which it registerswith the channel 3 and lifter bar l, the matrix line is moved rightwardto? wards said bar 4 by a line shifter pusher similar to that identifiedby the numeral 5 inFigures '5 and 6, It may happen that the linecontains thick matrices such as-those shown in Figure 4 whose upper ears6, by which they are suspended in the first elevator 2, are located atone side of the matrix whilst the tooth-ed combinations 7 are locatedupon the opposite side. As the line is slack through the slackening ofthe spacebands, during the ascent ofthe first elevator 2, the thickmatrices will be suspended at a slant as is that shown atthe left ofFigure 4, so that when the line is afterwards moved rightward, thecombinations 7 are too low to engage with the teeth of the lifter bar 4.

elevator 2 to the lifter bar 1;. The resistant 8 is attached to theupper arm of a lever 10 which is adapted to swing about a pivot 11 fastto the channel In the position shown in Figure 1 the resistant 8 restsagainst an abutment 12, and projects into the first elevator 2 and, asmore particularly shown in Figure 4, brings into erect position anymatrices which may be slantingly suspended in said elevator. If, whenthe resistant 8 is in this position, the line of matrices 1 is pushed onto the lifter bar 1, all the matrices are brought to erect position soas to enable them to properly engage with the lifter bar 4:. Theresistant 8 normally is held against the abutment 12 by a tension spring"13 which, in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3, is connected to itand to the channel casting 3. During the transference 9f the matrix line1 to the lifter bar 4, the resistant 8 is moved against the action ofthe spring 13 by the advancing matrix line, the lever 9' as shown inFigure 2, being then rocked clockwise about the pivot 11. The nose of aspring detent 14: thereupon engages with a'recess 15 in the lever 10 andyieldingly holds the latter locked, in such manner that the resistant 8is prevented from contacting with the feet of the matrices of theadvancingline. The resistart 8 remains in this position until the wholematrix line has been transferred to the lifter bar 1 and, after thelatter has been raised in the usual manner, the first elevator 2 againdescends and when doing so, contacts; with the lower arm of the lever 10and causes the latter, together with the resistant 8 to turnanti-clockwise and return into the normal position in which said partsare shown in Figure 1.

The abutment 12 is preferably so located that when the first elevator 2is in its uppermost position, it forms an extension of the guide 'railand serves to support the matrices during their transfer to the lifterbarA- In the constructionaltorin represented in Figures 5 to 7:, thespring-controlled resistant and its lever are formed as single entityidentified by the numeral 16 which is adapted to swing about the pivot11. A spiral spring 1'7 (Figure 7) acting as a triotion brake, encirclesthe pivot 11 and resiliently holds the resistant 16 in any post tion-towhich it may be moved, The spring 17 is enclosed within a cap or cover17" which is rigidly connected tothe ivot stud 11 as by a pin or thelike, and carries an arm 18 which serves to restore the resistant 16into its operative position. For this pur pose a pawl 0r so-calledpusher 19 is 31V- oted to the usual line shifter link 20 attac led tothe line shifter'lever The said pusher is 'yieldingly held in theposition shown in the drawing by a spring'22. When the line shifter 5 ismoved'to the left, the pusher 19 willengage, with the arm 18 and returnit to the normal position in which it is shown in Figure 5.

Zhen the first elevator. 2 moves upwards, it will press against the arm18 and thereby move it and the resistant 16 clockwise against the actionof the spring 22, in order to leave t Pa age e r or he ame ding mline 1. As soon, however, as the first elevator. has passed the arm '18and nears its uppermost position, the spring 22 comes into action andovercomes the brake action'of the spring 17 on the resistant 16, andcauses said'resistant to return to its normal position, as in, Figure 5,inwhich it will bear against the foremost matrix; of the line and bringinto upright position any of the mat rices which may be inclined in saidline,

Finally, Figure 8 illustrates a constructional form in which'theresistant is of. the character of; a roller 23. In this construction theascending first elevator 2, when it travels past the roller 23, pressesthe resistant a little way back, that is to say, rightward, andsubsequently theresistant isrestored into operative position by theaction of a spring which, although not shown in the drawing, may besimilar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3. i

It is obvious that the constructional details of the foregoingarrangements may be varied withoutdeparting from the invention, iforexample, in place of the spring detent 1%, a different type of detentmay be employed for locking the resistant. The lever 10 and likewise thespringdetent 1e are preferably so constructed that when in mutualengagement the resistant 8 will be held slightly away from the advancingline of matrices, so that the latter will not drag over it.

Having described my invention, I declare thatwhat I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with means for transferrinr; the matrices from the first elevato of a matrix composing andline casting inachine to the distributor lifter bar, of a resistantlocated in the path of the foremost of the matrices to be transferred,said resistant by contact with said matrix serving to eiiectthe erectionof any matrices of the line which may hang slantwiseprior to theirtransfer to the lifter bar.

2. The combination with means for transferring the matrices from thefirst elevator ot a matrix; composing and line casting machine to thedistributor litter bar, of a resistant located in the path oftheforemost of the matrices to be transferred, said resistant 'by contactwith said matrix serving to efifect the erection of any matricesof theline which may hang slantwise prior to their transfer to the lifter barand means'sup'porting'the resistant yieldingly in the path. ofthematrices in course of transference so that said resist-ant is pushedby the advancing line of matrices out of the path of the latter,

3. The combination with means for transferring the matrices from thefirst elevator of a matrix composing and line casting ma chine to thedistributor lifter bar, of a re- .sistant located in the path of theforemost of the matrices to be transferred, said resistant by contactwith said matrix serving to effect the erection of any matrices of theline which may hang slantwise prior to their transfer to the lifter bar,means supporting the resistant yieldingly in the path of the matrices incourse of transference so that said resistant is pushed by the advancingline of matrices out of the path of the latter and an abutment in thepath of the resistant for limiting its movement towards the firstelevator. i

4. The combinaion with means for transferring the matrices from thefirst elevator v of a matrix composing and line casting machine to thedistributor lifter bar, of a resistant located in the path of theforemost of the matrices to be transferred, said resistant by contactwith said matrix serving to effect the erection of any matrices of theline which may hang slantwise prior to their transfer to the lifter bar,means supporting the resistant yieldingly in the path of the matrices incourse of transference so that said resistant is pushedby the advancingline of matrices out of the path of the latter and a detent adapted tohold the resistant in its retracted position in order to preventdragging of the line of matrices thereover, said detent being releasedby the first elevator during its return to casting position.

5. The combination with means for transferring the matrices from thefirst elevator return the resistant into the path of the line ofmatrices.

6. The combination with means for transferring the matrices from thefirst elevator cending first elevator, by contact with which theresistant is moved out of that path prior to its restoration to saidpath by the springcontrolled pusher.

7. The combination with means for transferring the matrices from thefirst elevator of a matrix composing and line casting ma chine to thedistributor lifter bar, of a resistant located in the path of theforemost of the matrices to be transferred, said resistant by contactwith said matrix serving to effect the erection of any matrices of theline which may hang slantwise prior to their transfer to the lifter barand an abutment against which bears the resistant and which forms anextension of the guide rail for the matrices in the first elevator whenthe latter is in its highest position.

8. In apparatus such as described, the combination with a first elevatoradapted to raise a line of matrices, and a lifter bar adapted to receivesaid line when it is moved endwise out of the raised elevator, of aresistant located in the path of the ascending matrices, which bycontact with an obliquely hanging matrix of the line will bring saidmatrix into erect position.

9. In apparatus such as described, the combination with a first elevatoradapted to raise a line of matrices, and a lifter bar adapted to receivesaid line when it is moved endwise out of the raised elevator, of aresistant located in the path of the ascending matrices, which bycont-act with an obliquely hanging matrix of the line will bring saidmatrix into erect position and a pivot for said resistant upon which itwill turn by the matrix line when the latter is moved endwise out of thefirst elevator.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature hereto.

CARL MUEHLEISEN.

